So you think you want to buy a greenhouse? This very question is on a lot of peoples minds these days; mainly because growing your own food has become an appealing option to buying at the local store for health and safety reasons. However, you need to know a few things before you commit to a greenhouse to have a good experience.

Size is one of the first things you will want to consider. This has to do with the amount of space you have as well as what you want to grow in the grow house. You will need to consider the overall floor space as well as the headroom; both of which are important for many types of plants.

Lets talk about the space in the yard itself. If all you have is space that is covered by shade, this is not an optimal space for a green house. You can get away with combination of direct sunlight and shade as long as the direct sunlight hits your greenhouse at least 4 hours per day. The ideal location is one where the grow house sits in direct sunlight all day long, especially in the winter months and in the northern regions of the country.

If you are looking to use a greenhouse as a season extender, just about any kind and size will do. Of course this will depend on how many plants you are either starting on the front end on extending on the back end. Since you will not be growing plants in the dead of winter, or the heat of summer, your heating and cooling requirements will be at a minimum.

Over wintering plants is a little bit different situation because you will need to make sure the temperature stays at least 30 F more than whats outside the green house. Insulation is now a factor, though you can still get away with some medium priced greenhouses that are pretty well insulated, especially if you live in a milder climate.

In colder climates you have to have a greenhouse that is well insulated or your results will be less than expected and your heating bills will be more than expected! Many people come away from greenhouse gardening disappointed because of the cost and results and this can almost always be traced back to purchasing a greenhouse that is not a good fit for your region. Just dont make that mistake.

Any time the intent is to grow food in a greenhouse year round; you will need to have a very well insulated greenhouse. This helps both in the winter months when you need some help heating and also in the summer months when you may need a little help cooling. Of course the climate you live in will also play a part in determining what green house is for you but you will notice the better all round results come for good insulated greenhouses.

When purchasing your greenhouse, dont make the most common mistakes of not buying a greenhouse big enough for the job or not getting or building a greenhouse that is well insulated for your climate. By asking yourself a few simple questions, accessing what you want a green house for and the space you have that makes since, you can make sure your greenhouse experience is both fun and fulfilling from the start!

Posted under greenhouses